4 out of 5 stars

Jake Brasch’s witty, tender and razor-sharp “The Reservoir” -- the playwright’s Off Broadway debut -- delves into a college student’s return home to seek sobriety and purpose. Its mix of intimate two-hander scenes, fourth-wall breaking asides and fantastical imagined conversations remains charming and poignant, but never preachy. As the student, Noah Galvin deftly anchors the play, giving an understated yet powerful performance juggling relapse and growth; the stellar Caroline Aaron and Mary Beth Piel, playing his grandmothers, are highlights in the sturdy ensemble. Unfortunately, Shelley Butler’s occasionally contrived direction lets down the production -- the action feels jilted with inconsistent pacing. — Justin McCallum

A co-production with the Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation at the Atlantic Theater, through March 22, 2026; atlantictheater.org. (Review date: Feb. 28, 2026)